Gardening Articles: Landscaping :: Trees, Shrubs, & Vines

Blast Bugs Away

by Charlie Nardozzi

Knocking pests like aphids, white flies, mealybugs, and spider mites off plant leaves with sprays of water is a widely used pest control technique. However, the effectiveness of using blasts of water is dependent on the coverage of the spray nozzle. Common garden nozzles dont completely cover the plant leaves -- especially the leaf undersides where many insects hide.

A new water nozzle packs more punch when it comes to killing these insect pests, and it cleans plant leaves at the same time. The Bug Blaster wand attaches to normal garden hoses and sprays a 360-degree vertical wall of water. The 4-foot-long wand is angled for reaching the undersides of leaves, and it will knock soft-bodied insects off the plant without damaging the leaves. Spray every 3 to 5 days for two weeks to eliminate heavy pest infestations. Another benefit is the nozzle uses 60 percent less water than a traditional hose nozzle.